Factor structure of the Paranoia scale of the MMPI-2 in relation to the Harris-Lingoes subscales and Comrey factor analysis.

Abstract

A 3-factor structure for the Paranoia (Pa) scale of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (J. N. Butcher, W. G. Dahlstrom, J. R. Graham, A. Tellegen, & B. Kaemmer, 1989) was derived in a sample of 378 patients with substance use disorders and validated by confirmatory factor analysis in a separate sample of 226 patients. Factors labeled Paranoia and Low Morale were positively correlated with each other but inversely correlated with Naivete, and factor correlations were largely explained by a General Maladjustment construct, as defined by Welsh's Anxiety scale. The content of the Paranoia factor was obviously related to the concept of paranoia, and Low Morale had a high correlation with General Maladjustment. Naivete was defined primarily by false responses to items that endorse cynical attitudes. The 3 factors corresponded well with the Harris-Lingoes Pa subscales of Persecutory Ideas, Poignancy, and Naivete and aligned closely with groups of factors from the 9-factor solution of Comrey (1958).